state honorees were awarded silver medallions and $1,000. the 10 students named national honorees received gold medallions and a $5,000 grant for the charity of their choice. and all the honorees received praise from a winning super bowl quarterback. >> what i know is if "elite" means "best in class," this year's winners of the prudential spirit of community award clearly fit the definition. >> national honoree gracie schram is from kansas. the 13-year-old performer sold cds to help communities in africa and haiti. another top honoree is 17-year-old candonino agusen of hawaii. he raised money for japanese tsunami victims. other projects range from remembering war veterans to providing toys for children after natural disasters. what they all share is the drive to do something to help others. >> we hope that by shining a spotlight on your terrific achievements we can send a loud message to young people everywhere that volunteer service is rewarding and valuable and hopefully inspire them to think about how they may contribute to their communit

every one of today's honorees is blessed with an extraordinary amount of talent. all of them are driven. but, yes, we could fill this room many times over with people who are talented and driven. what sets these men and women apart is the incredible impact they have had on so many people -- not in short, blinding bursts, but steadily, over the course of a lifetime. together, the honorees on this stage, and the ones who couldn't be here, have moved us with their words, they have inspired us with their actions. they've enriched our lives and they've changed our lives for the better. some of them are household names, others have labored quietly out of the public eye. most of them may never fully appreciate the difference they've made or the influence that they've had, but that's where our job comes in. it's our job to help let them know how extraordinary their impact has been on our lives. and so today we present this amazing group with one more accolade for a life well led, and that's the presidential medal of freedom. so i'm going to take an opportunity -- i hope y

every one of today's honorees is blessed with an extraordinary amount of talent. all of them are driven. but, yes, we could fill this room many times over with people who are talented and driven. what sets these men and women apart is the incredible impact they have had on so many people -- not in short, blinding bursts, but steadily, over the course of a lifetime. together, the honorees on this stage, and the ones who couldn't be here, have moved us with their words, they have inspired us with their actions. they've enriched our lives and they've changed our lives for the better. some of them are household names, others have labored quietly out of the public eye. most of them may never fully appreciate the difference they've made or the influence that they've had, but that's where our job comes in. it's our job to help let them know how extraordinary their impact has been on our lives. and so today we present this amazing group with one more accolade for a life well led, and that's the presidential medal of freedom. so i'm going to take an opportunity -- i hope y

last night, i have the opportunity to listen to an 86- year-old honoree at the gathering last night. she's had spoken about how her life was different and the opportunities that were denied because she was jewish. because of the efforts of norm and mike and your leade in, asiy are not denied opportunities because of where they come from. we are aspiring and we are leaving california and america in a new generation. -- leading california and america in a new generation. we have an obligation to lead in the 21st century. we are providing leadership in all areas that govern this country. technology, health, academia, commerce, art, entertainment, and government. today, we must come together, not only in celebration, but an acknowledgment of the work that lies ahead. we understand that this is a global economy. the opportunities are ones that we can only surpassed if we come together. we can win the future if we dream together, if we work together. as a society, as an economy, the best is yet to comment. let me leave you with this last idea. every moment affords us an opportunity to chan

she is now joined forces with two other honorees.ork feeding school children around the globe. >> he started his organization in malawi. i just asked him to consider us. >> i was very struck by her. i felt we were people who could work together. >> today the organization marries meals provides free porridge to all 400 students. >> his support means the children always have something to eat. he is a strength to me. >> 2010 honoree evans makes solar lanterns for rural african communities. evans visited the school and recently his team taught them to build their own lamps. >> for the family, it cuts the costs. to the children it is helping them to study. >> evans really motivated our kids to be inventors. we've come up with their own little models. >> now marie's students plan to supply lamps to their communities. with creativity and compassion, these cnn heroes are helping each other to change even more lives. >> cnn heroes coming together to work together. it's a family. how sweet is that? >>> every night piers ends with a segment cal

she is now joined forces with two other honorees. in 2010 for his work feeding school children around the globe. >> he started his organization in malawi. i just asked him to consider us. >> i was very struck by her. i felt we were people who could work together. >> today the organization marries meals provides free porridge to all 400 students. >> his support means the children always have something to eat. he is a strength to me. >> 2010 honoree evans makes solar lanterns for rural african communities. evans visited the school and recently his team taught them to build their own lamps. >> for the family, it cuts the costs. to the children it is helping them to study. "only in america." it's his british perspective on life in the u.s. but i'm not british. although i did see "the kings speech." so i'll give this a try. tonight, it's all about another king. the king, elvis. there is some people out there, bless them, who genuinely believe that the king is up there right now in the blue suede shoes and white suit looking down on us whi

we're looking at the honorees, and they will join hundreds of others in dining in complete darkness.hey can only use their sense of smell, taste and touch to get a sense of the blind. we'll be right back. i remember the days before copd. my son and i never missed opening day. but with copd making it hard to breathe, i thought those days might be over. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with symbicort, today i'm breathing better, and that means... game on! symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. [ whistle ] with copd, i thought i might miss out on my favorite tradition. now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. and that makes a difference in my breathing. today

he is a saint to me. >> 2010 honoree evans max lanterns.eir school and tote them to make lanterns. >> for the family it cuts cost and helps the children study. >> he's motivated them to become inventors. >> now marie's students plan to supply lamps to their community. with creativity and compassion, these cnn heros, helping them to change even more lives. >> coming together to help others, it's a family. how sweet is that? >> cnn heros are all chosen from people you tell us about. to nominate someone who is making a difference, go to cnn.com. your nomination could help them help others. sfx: sounds of marching band and crowd cheering sfx: sounds of marching band and crowd cheering so, i'm walking down the street, x: sounds of marching band and crowd cheering just you know walking, sfx: sounds of marching bandnd and crowd cheering and i found myself in the middle of this paradeeet, x: sounds of marching band and crowd cheering honoring america's troops. sfx: sounds of marching bandnd and crowd cheering which is actually in tquite fitting bec

honored for a top cmn hero in 2008, she's joined forces with two other honorees.s was recognized for his work feeding children around the globe. >> we started this organization here, so i just asked him to consider us. >> i was very struck by her. i felt we were people who could work together. >> this is the stove. >> magnus's organization mary's meals provides free porridge daily to all 300 of her students. >> his support means the children always had something to eat. he is a saint to me. >> reporter: 2010 honoree evan makes solar lanterns for rural african communities. evan has visited maria's school, and recently his team taught students to build their own lamps. >> for the family it cuts the cost, and for the children it's helping them to study. evan has really motivated our kids to be inventors. they've come up with their own little models. >> reporter: now maria's students plan to provide lamps to their community. the creativity and passion, these cnn heroes are helping each other to change even more lives. >> cnn heroes coming together to work together. it

it is my pleasure t oadd to the awards ceremony by announcing my small business week honoree. this year if it goes to sunset. come on up jim. [applause] this is probably a little different than you would expect. sunset shapers is not manufacturing the biggest technology machine. they make surf boards and shape them. now in addition to the success of selling those, they also sell a lot of fashion accessories and jewelry because it is a lifestyle. as soon as i learned how to use my ipad, then i will learn how to use a surf board. i have got my priorities straight. [laughter] they have evidenced this innovative, creative spirit. whatever you do, there is a market if you do it well. if you make fine handcrafted quality in san francisco, they will sell well. jim has been successful at it. he has brought back the entrepreneurial spirit of creating things in your own neighborhood and being a successful business. on behalf of the city and to all of your creative efforts, please keep on making things in san francisco. congratulations. [applause] >> i want to say thank-you to mayor lee

♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, secretary george shultz and chief of protocol, charlotte schulz, the honoreespplause] >> thank you, distinguished guests, my fellow board members. nancy and i would call this a wow day, and it is a wonderful day. i was sitting here thinking that from my home town, mineola, texas, for willie, and board of texas, for me, i do not know whether they would have named a street for us there or not, but there would have been a problem because in both of those towns, there is only one street, and it has already been named main street. it is breathtaking to think that a street here is named for george and myself. coming in on the carriage, i rather like that. the surprise is i guess that they are giving us the carriage and horses? i cannot wait to arrive at the opera. mayor, do you think we should get some permits for the horse and carriage on russian hill? i don't know. seriously, everybody knows that has ever talk to me more than a few minutes that i am passionate about these buildings. i have had the opportunity of being involved with the bond issues for the symphony

wanted to make sure that everybody knows that our very own vice-president kimberly brandon is the honoree at the san francisco business and professional women's club sojourner luncheon in two months' time. the san francisco senior club of the national association for negro business and professional women's club issued a charter under that name in 1970 and they have selected commissioner brandon to give us -- honor us as the professional woman of 2012. i hope you would join me in congratulating her. you are always our women of the year, just so you know. perry much appreciate everything you do for us. that is it, believe it or not. >> thank you. >> any public comment on the executive director's report? >> item 8 a, approval of travel for two representatives of the port commission to newport, the rhode island to report best practices for hosting the 28 -- 34 of america's cup in san francisco. >> so moved. all in favor? aye. resolution 1249 has passed. is there any public comment? >> item 9 b. request approval to appoint the office of economic and workforce development as lead negotiator on

he has been made principal honoree from the federalist society, the texas journal of law and justice and he has been active in many of these very important issues that we've faced as a conservative movement. joining him is karen harned. karen is the founder and executive director of the national federation of independent businesses, small business legal center. she also has been active in the fight for liberty and particularly the freedom of small businesses to do the job that they do so well for our country and that is to provide jobs, to provide products and services that the people want, and she has also been active in a number of these very important issues. she received her bachelor's degree from the university of oklahoma and her j.d. from george washington university law school. we're happy to have both of them. we'll start out by opening it up with gregg abbott. >> thank you, general. it's interesting as you're making the introductions, i was unaware, karen, until right now about the texas/ou conflict we may have. great to see that once again, barack obama has been the great

. >> potomac nationals tomorrow night, military honoree night. >> they are going to sponsor and givek to the community, they invited us out there and reality homes for heros is sponsoring it. i am excited to be part of that also >> we ask y'all to come out friday and support your heros. >> sounds good. thanks very much. good to see you. looking forward to closing i know. >> i know excited. >> dozens of volunteers spent their morning helping the less fortunate they stuffed 2,000 shoe boxes for elderly and unemployedemployed. >>> well, brian i tell you what we had another hot one today as we expected records have broken the official high now in, 99 degrees, that breaks the record by 1 degree, dulles did not break a record, bwi tied their record at 100 degrees here is good news this should be the last of the really hot days, these were the records, we knew we could probably tie s indeed we have topped at least two of them and it is still really warm out there 94 degrees, quantico 95, annapolis, 95, still scorching despite the fact the heat advisory for our area is now dropped, it was su

congratulations to all of our honorees. we're very grateful for your work. let's give a hand for them. [applause] the good government awards also support spur's good government work. it is a central part of our mission. our agenda is admittedly ambitious. we analyze every local measure on the san francisco ballot, which until recently was a pretty formidable task. we participate in most of the major issues of city government from pension and payroll tax reform to some of the most important discussions on how we fund a lot of our public services, whether that finding different revenue streams for our parks, are trying to find new ways to fund public transportation in the city. we're very happy to be working with mayor lee and the board to address a lot of these issues. this will clearly be a busy year for us. another component of our work is connecting the city's robuspro o assistance with our many business partners. this is a core part of mfac original purpose in san francisco. we are focused on building this capacity once again. as everyone here knows, the

[laughter] [applause] president chiu: our next honoree is the person that our former colleague, the state assemblymen often referred to as the diva of the clerk of the board of supervisors office. gail johnson is leading us after 36 years of service. i cannot tell you after -- the number of committee hearings that i sat through, particularly budget committee, where i needed to go for a walk and a breath of fresh air, but they'll never moved. the strength that you show and your dedication to the work, it always struck me how committed you were to us and helping us work our way through the process. my favorite memory of you was about 10 years ago, a black and white ball out in front of city hall. there was a tent and kool & the gang was performing. and there was gail in the most beautiful black sequined gown with a drinking your hand and tapping your foot and having the best time. i've never gotten an image out of my mind when i marquee with you. it helped me understand -- when i am working with you. it helped me understand that you worry to the wonderful human being. you really are the bac